Nut-lock.



w c. GILBERT.

NUT LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I916.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

TTE

NUT-LOCK.

Application filed May 5, 1916.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS C. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thunder Hawk, in the county of Corson and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in nut locks, and has for its object to provide a nut lock including essentially a locking element constructed of a single piece of spring sheet metal, which may be applied to the bolt prior to the application of the nut for locking the latter in adjusted position.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of the improved nut lock, Fig. 2 represents a side elevation, partly in section, Fig. 3 represents atransverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the locking element removed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate'corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates a bolt of the usual or any preferred construction having a pair of diametrically opposed and longi tudinally extending slots 8 in the externally screw threaded portion 6 thereof. A nut 7 is fitted upon the screw threaded portion of the bolt 5 and the grooves 8 are connected at one end by a slot 9 formed diametrically in the end of the bolt 5.

The locking element, designated generally by the numeral 10 is preferably constructed of a relatively thin and narrow strip of spring sheet metal and is bent into U-shape I and includes a web portion 11 and legs 12 and 13. The leg 12 is extended at right angles to the web 11 and the portion of the other leg 13 adjacent the web is also directed at right angles thereto. The end portion of the leg 13, however, is directed outwardly at an oblique angle to the web 11, and terminates in an inwardly directed and pointed nut-engaging tooth 14.- The Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, iaie.

Serial No. 95,595.

legs 12 and 13 are spaced apart a distance approximately corresponding to the thickness of the bolt 5 between the inner walls of the two grooves 8 and the inherent resiliency of the locking element retains the portions of the legs adjacent the web in contact with the walls of the grooves 8 when the locking element is applied. The tooth or angular end 14; of the leg 13 is movable inwardly within a recess formed in the bolt, and a tongue 16 struck out from the leg is adapted to engage in a notch 17 formed in the wall of one of the grooves 8 to prevent outward movement of the locking element upon the bolt.

The outer face of the nut 7 is concave and is formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth 18, extending radially from the bore of the nut and adapted to co-act with the pointed tooth 14 of the locking element to lock the nut against rotary movement upon the bolt.

In use, the U-shaped locking element 10 is engaged in the grooves 8 in the bolt and is slipped inwardly upon the latter until the tongue 16 springs into the recess 17, thereby retaining the locking element against accidental removal. The nut 7 is subsequently applied to the bolt and advanced to the desired position, the inward movement of the nut upon the bolt causing a gradual depression of the prominent portion of the leg 13 of the locking element. As the nut is moved over the tooth 14 the leg 13 springs outwardly engaging the tooth 14 with the teeth 18 of the nut and thereby locking the latter against rotary movement.

The leg 13 is formed with an aperture 19 adapted to receive a screw or bolt for securing the locking element in position upon the bolt. If preferred, the leg 12 may be eliminated when the locking element is fastened in position by means other than the tongue 16.

What I claim is:

1. A nut lock comprising a bolt having grooves in the side and end thereof and a recess at the inner terminal of one of the grooves, a nut fitted upon said bolt having radially extending ratchet teeth in the outer face thereof, a substantially U-shaped locking element engaged in said grooves having an angularly directed end engaging the ratchet teeth of said nut to lock the latter against rotation upon the bolt and movable inwardly into said recess to release the nut, and means to lock said locking element against rotary movement upon the bolt, and a tongue struck out from said locking element and directed toward the free end of 15 said bolt and engaged in one of said recesses to lock the locking element against removal from the bolt.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIS C. GILBERT. Witnesses IV. C. Sorim, H. J. ACHAMBAULT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents. Washington, D C. 

